Chapter 19 Bad Money

 The baker¹ introduced in the foregoing chapter was named Harding. Singularly, Abel Harding was a brother of Timothy Harding, the cooper.

 

In many respects he resembled his brother. He was an excellent man, exemplary in all the relations of life, and had a good heart. He was in very comfortable circumstances, having accumulated a little property by diligent² attention to his business. Like his brother, Abel Harding had married, and had one child. She had received the name of Ellen.

 

When the baker closed his shop for the night, he did not forget the new dollar, which he had received, or the disposal he told Ida he would make of it.

 

Ellen ran to meet her father as he entered the house.

 

"What do you think I have brought you, Ellen?" he said, with a smile.

 

"Do tell me quick," said the child, eagerly.

 

"What if I should tell you it was a new dollar?"

 

"Oh, papa, thank you!" and Ellen ran to show it to her mother.

 

"Yes," said the baker, "I received it from a little girl about the size of Ellen, and I suppose it was that that gave me the idea of bringing it home to her."

 

This was all that passed concerning Ida at that time. The thought of her would have passed from the baker's mind, if it had not been recalled by circumstances.

 

Ellen, like most girls of her age, when in possession of money, could not be easy until she had spent it. Her mother advised her to deposit it in some savings³ bank; but Ellen preferred present gratification.

 

Accordingly, one afternoon, when walking out with her mother, she persuaded her to go into a toy shop, and price a doll which she saw in the window. The price was seventy-five cents. Ellen concluded to buy it, and her mother tendered the dollar in payment.

 

The shopman took it in his hand, glanced at it carelessly at first, then scrutinized⁴ it with increased attention.

 

"What is the matter?" inquired Mrs. Harding. "It is good, isn't it?"

 

"That is what I am doubtful of," was the reply.

 

"It is new."

 

"And that is against it. If it were old, it would be more likely to be genuine."

 

"But you wouldn't condemn⁵ a bill because it is new?"

 

"Certainly not; but the fact is, there have been lately many cases where counterfeit⁶ bills have been passed, and I suspect this is one of them. However, I can soon ascertain⁷."

 

"I wish you would," said the baker's wife. "My husband took it at his shop, and will be likely to take more unless he is put on his guard."

 

The shopman sent it to the bank where it was pronounced counterfeit.

 

Mr. Harding was much surprised at his wife's story.

 

"Really!" he said. "I had no suspicion of this. Can it be possible that such a young and beautiful child could be guilty of such an offense⁸?"

 

"Perhaps not," answered his wife. "She may be as innocent in the matter as Ellen or myself."

 

"I hope so," said the baker; "it would be a pity that so young a child should be given to wickedness. However, I shall find out before long."

 

"How?"

 

"She will undoubtedly⁹ come again sometime."

 

The baker watched daily for the coming of Ida. He waited some days in vain. It was not Peg¹⁰'s policy to send the child too often to the same place, as that would increase the chances of detection.

 

One day, however, Ida entered the shop as before.

 

"Good-morning," said the baker; "what will you have to-day?"

 

"You may give me a sheet of gingerbread, sir."

 

The baker placed it in her hand.

 

"How much will it be?"

 

"Twelve cents."

 

Ida offered him another new bill.

 

As if to make change, he stepped from behind the counter and placed himself between Ida and the door.

 

"What is your name, my child?" he asked.

 

"Ida, sir."

 

"Ida? But what is your other name?"

 

Ida hesitated a moment, because Peg had forbidden her to use the name of Harding, and had told her, if ever the inquiry¹¹ were made, she must answer Hardwick.

 

She answered reluctantly: "Ida Hardwick."

 

The baker observed her hesitation¹², and this increased his suspicion.

 

"Hardwick!" he repeated, musingly¹³, endeavoring to draw from the child as much information as possible before allowing her to perceive that he suspected her. "And where do you live?"

 

Ida was a child of spirit, and did not understand why she should be questioned so closely.

 

She said, with some impatience¹⁴: "I am in a hurry, sir, and would like to have the change as soon as you can."

 

"I have no doubt of it," said the baker, his manner suddenly changing, "but you cannot go just yet."

 

"Why not?" asked Ida.

 

"Because you have been trying to deceive me."

 

"I trying to deceive you!" exclaimed Ida.

 

"Really," thought Mr. Harding, "she does it well; but no doubt she is trained to it. It is perfectly¹⁵ shocking, such artful depravity in a child."

 

"Don't you remember buying something here a week ago?" he asked, in as stern a tone as his good nature would allow him to employ.

 

"Yes," answered Ida, promptly¹⁶; "I bought two rolls, at three cents apiece."

 

"And what did you offer me in payment?"

 

"I handed you a dollar bill."

 

"Like this?" asked the baker, holding up the one she had just offered him.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"And do you mean to say," demanded the baker, sternly, "that you didn't know it was bad when you offered it to me?"

 

"Bad!" gasped¹⁷ Ida.

 

"Yes, spurious. Not as good as blank paper."

 

"Indeed, sir, I didn't know anything about it," said Ida, earnestly; "I hope you'll believe me when I say that I thought it was good."

 

"I don't know what to think," said the baker, perplexed¹⁸. "Who gave you the money?"

 

"The woman I board with."

 

"Of course I can't give you the gingerbread. Some men, in my place, would deliver you up to the police. But I will let you go, if you will make me one promise."

 

"Oh, I will promise anything, sir," said Ida.

 

"You have given me a bad dollar. Will you promise to bring me a good one to-morrow?"

 

Ida made the required promise, and was allowed to go. 

1 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

2 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

3 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

4 scrutinized   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 宝石商人仔细察看钻石有无瑕庇 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. 我们一起把甜食店里买来的十二块柠檬蛋糕细细打量了一番。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比

5 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

6 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

7 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

8 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

9 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

10 peg   

n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定

参考例句：

• Hang your overcoat on the peg in the hall.把你的大衣挂在门厅的挂衣钩上。
• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet.他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。

11 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

12 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

13 musingly   

adv.沉思地，冥想地

参考例句：

14 impatience   

n.不耐烦，急躁

参考例句：

• He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
• He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。

15 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

16 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

17 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。